Tramway-switch



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A.A C. L. ENGSTIEELD.

' TRAMWAYL SWITGH.Y

No. 503,474. Patented Aug. 1.5, 189e..n

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A. G. L, ENGSTFELD. TRAMWAY SWITCH.

No. 5033174u Y Patentedmg. 15,18%.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

AUGUSTIN CHARLES LOUIS ENGSTFELD, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

T RAMWAY-SWITC H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,474, dated August 15, 1893.

Application filed July 8, 1892. Serial No. l39,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTIN CHARLES Louis ENGSTEELD, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches for Tram-Cars, of which the following specification,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,and eXact description, such as will enable those skilled in the art tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of automatic switches in which thepivoted tongue of the switch is shifted by a device mounted on the carand under the control of the driver or motorman. All such devices knownto me are more or less complex in their structure and expensive to putinto practical use, and it is therefore the object of my invention toproduce a simple automatic switching device which will employ the leastpossible number of parts, and will be economical to construct andmaintain in repair and effective and easy in operation.

To this end my invention consists broadly of a vertically movablerotatable shifting blade carried by the car and adapted to engage thepivoted tongue of a switch and be rotated for shifting the switch.

My invention consists further of the combination of a pair of thevertically movable rotatable blades on the car, with the frog of aswitch having the customary tongue pivoted in the triangular depression,and a pair of shallow grooves leading to each side of the depression inwhich the tongue operates, and adapted to guide the blades intoengagement with the tongue and allow them to be automatically rotatedfor shifting the tongue.

In order that my invention may be fully understoodJ l will firstdescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings and then moreparticularly point out in the claims what I consider as new therein.

In said drawingsz-Figure l is a top plan representation of my improvedautomatic switch, the body of the car being removed. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, the switch 5o frog being shown in section. Fig. 3 isan enlarged detail front elevation of the shiftingdevice attached to thecar. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the sliding boxes removed from theircasings. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the vertically movablerotatable shifting rods. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of thesliding boxes and the vertically movable rotatable shifting rodin placetherein and partlylowered and rotated. Fig. 7 is a top view of Fig. 3.Fig. 8 is a top view of Fig. 4:. Fig. 9 isa top viewof Fig. 5. Fig.lOisanenlargeddetailview of my improved switch frog. Figs. 11 and 12 arerespectively a front perspective and side elevation of a modiiiedarrangement for supporting my improved switching device on the truckframe.

l, l, are the main track rails, and 2, 2, are the switch rails.

3 is my improved frog casting formed with the usual central depressionor recess t in which is pivoted the tapered switch tongue 5. The forwardend of the switch tongue is usually tapered so as to rest closely upagainst the sides of the recess or depression et when shifted from oneposition to the other, but for the purpose which will hereinafterappear, I form the forward end 6 of the tongue 5 with a more pronouncedincline or taper than the sides of the recess in which it works, so thatthere will be a small space such as 7, between the end of the tongue andthe frog casting in either position of the tongue.

8 is another section or casting forming a continuation of the frog 3,the usual flange groove or switch lead 9 extending from the forward endof the recess #i through the section 8.

l0 and 11 are guide grooves or leads in the castings 8 and 3 and leadingto each side of the depression e as clearly shown in Figs. l and lO.Each of these grooves is very shallow and narrow, being about threesixteenths of an inch in depth and one-fourth of an inch wide, andwidening out as much as possible at the beginning lOa and lla, as shownin the drawings for the reception of the shifting blade presently to bedescribed. It will be observed that the central depression 4 of thecasting Sais about one and three quarters or two inches in depth, andtherefore there is a IOO The boxing 14, asA

chamber. The boxing is also provided withv the perforated side lugs 17,and the slots 18 in the front walls.

19 and 2O areapair of square sliding boxes. or casings tting in thechambers 15 and 16x of the boxing 14, and adapted to move verti-a callytherein; or arranged side by side in `they single chamber of the boxing,when it is found with but one chamber. These casings 19 and 2O areformed with cylindrical openings ori bores 21 and 22 respectively,extending lon-iy gitudinally through them, and slanting slots 1 23 and24 respectively which are cut through their Walls into the central boresand extend` from the center of the front faces to the center of theirside faces.

Each of these slots;

23 and 24 extends through a vertical distance of one and one halfinches, the upper three;

sixteenths of which extends vertically and:

the remainder on a slant.

These casings sur-l round and are supported by the shifting rods,

25 and 26 which will now be described.

Each of the shifting rods 25 and 26 is a' cylindrical bar having a thinblade 27 set into the lower end for engaging and shifting the switchtongue, a circular lug 28 projecting from its front edge and engaging inthe slot` formed in one of the casings 19 and 20, andI a supporting loopor strap 29 attached to its@ upper end for the reception of theend ofthef supporting and operating lever 30. It will be seen that the casings19 and 2O are supportedi upon the lugs 28 and move vertically with theshifting rods unless obstructed.

form 34 of the car body, are two pairs of operating levers 30, 3l whichare connected toj' gether at their adjacent ends by means ofr The rearends of the pins engaging in slots.

rear levers 30 pass through the loops 29 for,1 supporting the shiftingrods and their surrounding vertically movable casings, and in order toallow for the rotary movement of the shifting bar, the loop is attachedto the upper end of the bar so as to extend diagonally i across its faceby attaching the ends on a line forty-five degrees to the levers 30, andthen twisting the top parts around as illustrated in the drawings so asto extend at right angles to the supporting levers 30. This is also forthe purpose of givingthe parts a normal position when they hang from thelevers.

Attached to the levers 31 are the foot-levers 35, which extend upthrough the platform in convenient position for the driver or motor' 30and 3l between the supporting brackets v32 and 33 are made heavy enoughto support the parts normally as indicated in Fig. 2. ln case ofswitches being located at the ends of very sharp curves, it may be foundnecessary to provide for an eXtra amount of play between the truck frameand the shifting device, and for this purpose l provide the arrangementshown in Figs. 11 and 12.

36 is a vertical plate rigidly riveted to the truck frame 12 and formedwith a horizontal slot 37 at its upper end and an oblong loop orinclosing strap 38 at its lower end.

39 is a tie-rod securing the plate 3G to the truck frame 12.

14 is the boxing of my improved shifting device and 40 is a screw boltextending from the rearside thereof and passing throughthe slot 37 whereit is retained bya nut 47. The boxing is suspended b v the bolt 40 andconfined bythe strap 38. This arrangement also provides for the properadjustment of the device on the truck.

The operation of my device may be briefly described as follows: When thecar reaches the switch-lead, the proper shifting device is Y I; thenfinds its way into its guide groove and descends three sixteenths of aninch below the surrounding casing, without turning, as the slot in thecasing is vertical for this distance. The blade follows along in theguide groove until it reaches the depression in which the switch tongueworks, when it is forced down into this depression between the pivotedtongue and the wall of the depression,

the distance of one and one-half inches, the' vertical extent of theslanting slots 23 and 24 of the casings 19 and 20. While the blade ismaking this latter descent, the surrounding Pivoted to suitable brackets32, 33 extendi ing from the under side of the forward platcasing is heldagainst further downward movement by its contact with the tread of thefrog casting, and the blade is therefore made to turn ninety degrees byreason of the lug on the shifting rod working in the slanting slot inthe surrounding casing. By this movement the broad side of the blade isplaced at right angles to the pivoted tongue and consequently shifts thesame into its opposite position.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An' automatic switching device comprising a vertically movablerotatable bar suitably mounted upon a car, means for lowering said barinto engagement with the switch tongue, and means for simultaneouslyrotating said bar for shifting the switch tongue, substantially as setforth.

2. An automatic switching device comprising a vertically movable casingmounted on IOC IIO

the car and formed with a slan ting or inclined slot, a verticallymovable rotatable bar working in said easing and provided with a lugworking in said slanting slot, and means for moving said casing and barvertically, whereby the bar can be lowered into engagement with theswitch and simultaneously rotated for shifting the switch tongue, as setforth.

3. An automatic switching device, comprising a vertically movable casing mounted upon the car and formed with a slanting slot, a verticallymovable rotatable shifting bar located in said casing and provided witha lug which engages said slanting slot and a supporting loop on itsupper end, and a suitable lever engaging said supporting loop forsupporting the bar and casing and moving them vertically, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. An automatic switching device, comprising a vertically movablerotatable bar provided with a twisted supporting loop attached to itsupper end,'means for rotating said bar, and the supporting operatinglever engaged in said twisted loop, whereby the rod can be supported inits normal position by the lever and be rotated without interfering withthe connection between the lever and the loop, substantially as setforth.

5. An automatic switching device, comprising a vertically movablerotatable bar provided with a supporting loop extending diagonallyacross its upper end, means for rotating said bar, and the supportingoperating lever engaging said loop, whereby the bar can be movedvertically and rotated without interfering with the connection, as setforth.

G. An automatic switching device compris ing a vertically movablerotatable bar having a blade at its lower end and a supporting loop atits upper end, means for rotating said bar, and a supporting andoperating lever engaging in said loop and adapted to move the barvertically, as set forth.

7. An automatic switching device, comprisingasuitable boxing mountedupon the car and formed with a square chamber and slot in its frontwall, a vertically movable square casing supported in said squarechamber and formed with a cylindrical opening through it and a slantingslot in its wall, a vertically movable rotatable shifting bar working inthe cylindrical opening of said vertically movable casing and formedwith a lug which engages said slanting slot, and means for moving saidbar vertically, substantially as set forth.

S. In an automatic switching device, the combination of a verticallymovable casing mounted on the car, and a rotatable shifting barsupported in said casing and adapted to be rotated simultaneously withthe lowering of the casing, with the switch frog formed with the deeprecess in which the pivoted tongue works and the shallow lead groovesleading to the said deep recess,substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9. In a switching device, the combination of a vertically movablerotatable shifting bar suitably mounted upon the car, with the switchfrog formed with the recess having in clined walls, the tongue pivotedin said recess and having its forward end tapered or inclined at a morepronounced angle than the inclined walls of the recess, and lead groovesextending to said recess, substantially as set forth.

IO. In an automatic switching device, the combination of the verticallymovable rotatable shiftiug bar suitably mounted upon the car, the switchfrog formed with the recess and the tongue pivoted in said recess, andlead grooves in the frog leading to the recess, the recess being deeperthan the lead grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1l. In an automatic switching device, the combination of the verticallymovable casing suitably mounted upon the car and formed with theslanting or inclined slot, anda vertically movable rotatable bar workingin said casing and provided with a lug working in said slanting slot,with a switch frog formed with the deep recess in which the tongue ispivoted, and shallow lead grooves leading to the deep recess,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an automatic switching device, the combination of thevcrticallymovable casing suitably mounted upon the car and formed with acentral cylindrical bore and the slanting slot or groove, a verticallymovable rotat able shifting bar supported in said casing and providedwith a lug which engages said slanting slot or groove,means for movingsaid bar and casing vertically, with a frog casting formed with therecess, the tongue pivotedin said recess, and lead grooves leading tosaid recess, the recess being deeper than the lead grooves,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In an automatic switching device for tram cars, the combination ofthe truck frame, a supporting plate rigidly attached to said truck frameand slot in the upper end of said supporting plate, a retaining strap orloop at the lower end of said supporting plate, the supporting casing ofa shifting device inclosed by said strap or loop, and the bolt or pinextending from the upper endof said casing and engagingin the slot insaid supporting plate, substantially as set forth.

AUGUSTIN CHARLES LOUIS ENGSTFELD.

Witnesses:

CHAs. IIAAsu, W. C. BISHOP.

IOO

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